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Happenings 2,3
Youth 3
Birthdays/
Anniversaries
4
Calendar 5

F i r s t L u t h e r a n
C h u r c h o f H o o p l e
October
2 0 1 4

Thank you for
generously giving
to SONshine Min-
istries during Wor-
ship on Sunday
October 5th
Church Fall Sup-
per - Wednesday
October 22nd
(5-7pm)
Confirmation
Sunday is
November 2nd
An Altar in the
World Study con-
tinues on Sunday
mornings at 11am
Life is like a pumpkin patch...
This past spring I planted pump-
kins. I planted three pumpkin
plants and decided to roll the dice
and planted two pumpkin seeds.
My hands and knees covered in
dark soil, the long awaited
warmth of the air, and the sun
beating on my shoulders, on that
beautiful planting day, I had
dreams. Dreams of large ripe
bright orange pumpkins.
Dreams of a cool crisp fall day,
colorful leaves on the trees and
the ground, and an abundant
harvest. About a week ago, my
spring dreams kind of came true,
as I found myself in the garden
outback on a beautiful fall day har-
vesting pumpkins. Now, the dis-
claimer of course is that Im a city
boy with dreams of one day claim-
ing to have a green thumb. Minus
the mosquitos and the weeds, for
the most part I enjoy getting my
hands dirty doing a little gardening.
Just because I enjoy it however,
doesnt mean Im good at it. Nev-
ertheless, my little pumpkin patch
in the backyard produced pump-
kins. Not any award winners, but
several small ones, and a few medi-
um sized. Some were pretty close
to being completely ripe and or-
ange. Others about half green and
half orange and some were com-
pletely green. With frost here and
vines that have died, I have come
to terms with the fact that not all
of the pumpkins will ripen, fully
mature and turn bright orange.
Im sure that this has to do with
the fact that I probably didnt
prune them enough or correctly
or perhaps they didnt get enough
sun or water, etc. In any case, it
seems to me that life is kind of like
my pumpkin patch. Sometimes life
thrives and then there are those
times that life doesnt. Abraham
died at the age of 175, and some
translations of the bible say that he
died in a good old or ripe old
age. The story of Davids death is
similar to Abrahams, He died at
a ripe old age, having enjoyed long
life, wealth, and honor(1 Chroni-
cles 29:28). Methuselah, of
course has both of them beat big
time, as it is said that he lived to
be 969 (Genesis 5:27). Moses in
his farewell speech urges the peo-
ple of Israel to love God saying
for that means life to you and
length of days (Deuteronomy
30:20). For Moses, theres a con-
nection between loving God and
quality of life. While there are
stories of life that flourishes in the
bible, there are also stories of life
that is cut short. Abrahams wife
Sarah died about 50 years younger
than Abraham. Jesus was put to
death on a cross in his 30s. Da-
vids infant son died. Sometimes
life thrives, and sometimes it strug-
gles to and or doesnt survive. Im
not sure what to do about that
other than to say, its not fair, and
that I wish it wasnt so. Neverthe-
less, whether orange, ripe and full
of days or green and cut short of
fully maturing, all pumpkins at
some point sooner or later shrivel
up and decompose. Pumpkins do
not last forever and neither do we.
This could be the end of the story
and often times feels like it is, but
our faith says it is not. Isaiah
speaks of a day when it will be no
longer that the infant lives but a
few days or a person doesnt live
out a lifetime. Revelation envi-
sions a day without mourning,
crying, pain. The story of Jesus
empty tomb, Paul argues means
that death has lost its sting. It
seems to me that the message of
faith in all of these says that while
we live in a world with less than
perfect conditions and as and
around decomposing pumpkins,
that there is still a good and per-
fect gardener. And this gardener
has got a beautiful and pumpkin
patch in store for us. A patch with
perfect conditions. This is the
good news that faith offers and it
is meant to give young and good
old ripe pumpkins alike good
things like hope and peace and joy
while they are still living.

P a g e 2


This month well continue to meet at 11am on Sundays as we discuss scripture and the
book An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor. All are invited to join in, even if
you arent reading the book.
10.12 - The Practice of Wearing Skin & Practice of Walking on the Earth
10.19 - The Practice of Getting Lost & The Practice of Encountering Others
10.26 - The Practice of Living with Purpose & The Practice of Saying No
An Altar in the World Study
P a g e 3



The leagues will be helping serve at the Fall Supper. Also, the
leagues are currently selling Christmas wreaths as a fundrais-
er. See one of the youth to purchase one and help support the
activities and mission work of the youth. Orders will be taken
at the Country Store as well. Place your order by November
2nd! Thank you!

Sr. / Jr. League News
Please join us for a special worship service on Sunday November
2nd at 9:30am as this years 9th graders will be confirmed.

Confirmation Sunday - Sunday November 2nd
Sunday School Update!!!

Sunday School is off to a great start!
Here are a couple things to take note of:
1. October 12th we will be taking a Sunday School
picture for the directory. Please have your chil-
dren present.
2. October 12th is art day.
3. Please Remember to send offering with your
children. In December they which mission it will
go to.
Leaders for October
10.12 - Abby H, Adam O, Jackalyn M, Taylor R,
Lindsey I, Isabella B
10.19 - No Sunday School
10.26 - Alex I, Zach H, Charley H, Elli P, Lindsey I,
Dylan F
(To the left, Moses parts the Red Sea!)

P a g e 4

O c t o b e r

Anniversaries

Birthdays


October 12 - Joshua Renews the Covenant (Joshua 24:1-15)
October 19 - David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:1-9)
October 26 - Solomon Prays for Wisdom (1 Kings 3:4-9, 10-15, 16-28)
October 4 Lynda Hurtt
October 5 Mari Larman
October 9 Abby Niemann
October 10 Callie Hurtt
October 10 Ruth Midboe
October 10 Ron Hultin
October 12 Marla Gullickson
October 14 Leslie Fagerholt
October 14 Cindy Olson
October 18 Bennett Olson
October 20 McKenzie Sapa
October 20 Kay LeClerc
October 21 Jacob Niemann
October 23 Daisy Haugland
October 24 Sara Gullickson
October 26 Nadine Olson
October 27 Chris Martinson
October 10 Walter & Rosa Duff
October 14 Jerry & Nadine Olson
October 20 Art & Linda Duff
October 21 Larry & Sara McCollum
October 22 Loyd & Leta Oberg
October 25 Brad & Lisa Sapa
October 26 Jim & Yvonne Hurt
Readings this Month
P a g e 5


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3030 Glendale Avenue
701.894.6404
1luthoop@polarcomm.com
www.1luthoop.com
First Lutheran Church
PO Box 110
Hoople, ND 58243
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There is no fear in love, but
perfect love casts out fear
-1 John 4:18